New Copley Valley relief road opens

A new road built as part of the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley development scheme opened today (Monday).

The road, linking Hollas Lane with Fall Lane is a major milestone in the Council inspired development scheme, which will also ‘unlock’ 7 hectares of brownfield land.

The new Copley Valley relief road

The works were carried out by Buckingham Group Contracting Limited, on behalf of Genr8 Developments and has been assisted with £2.2 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant funding.

The new highway was completed on time and on budget, and is a major boost for local businesses in Sowerby Bridge, providing improved transport links for HGVs and large delivery vehicles.

Coun Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “The opening of the link road is an important step forward in the development of the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley scheme.

“We will carefully analyse its effect on traffic-flows within Sowerby Bridge itself, before considering further measures to help reduce congestion in the town.”

The remainder of the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley development scheme remains on track, with construction works scheduled to start early next year on the proposed housing and employment developments. Genr8 Developments, the Council’s development partner for the project, has recently appointed local firm Marshall Commercial Development Projects Limited to deliver the employment elements of the scheme, whilst the new housing development will be delivered in partnership with national house builder Taylor Wimpey PLC.

HGV access to businesses on Mearclough Road and Holmes Road will now be from Wakefield Road/Hollas Lane via the new link road.

The opening of the new highway has also allowed essential repair work to take place on Mearclough Bridge, which is a listed structure.

There is now a temporary closure of the bridge and once these repairs are complete, a weight restriction will be put in place on the bridge to prevent further use by HGVs, but cars, cyclists and pedestrians will still be able to cross the bridge in both directions.

Further works are ongoing to the junction between Fall Lane and Canal Road and adjacent Household Waste Recycling Centre and these are planned to be completed over the next couple of weeks.

While these works take place, there may need to be some traffic management measures in place to ensure the safety of workers.

The remainder of the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley development scheme remains on track, with construction works scheduled to start early next year on the proposed housing and employment developments.

Genr8 Developments, the council’s development partner for the project, has recently appointed local firm Marshall Commercial Development Projects Limited to deliver the employment elements of the scheme, whilst the new housing development will be delivered in partnership with national house builder Taylor Wimpey PLC.